"You're never completely ready...It just becomes your turn."

This is a quote from Ty Murray on "Dancing with the Stars." Now let me first say, that I'm not a usual suspect for such shows, but I wanted to see what all the hype was about and nothing else was on. I was really much more interested in all the different people than I was the dancing. If you know me, you understand this. Since I would never be able to dance anything other than dances like my favorite "The Chicken Dance". Anyway, as they showed the interview for Ty Murray I was struck by this statement.

As I was growing up, the days before school started each year, I would go into the living room with just my mom and cry. It was not that I did not like school. I was not ready for all I would have to face. I do NOT like change. I am a total don't move my cheese girl. I knew there would be ups and downs, positives and negatives, glories and failures....and honestly they all scared me. I just did not know if I could live up to the standard or "make it". I was never completely ready, but when my turn came......somehow it wasn't that bad.........and I did enjoy most of it.

As an adult, I have faced heartbreak, tragedy and fears........just like every one else. I have also experienced overwhelming joy, victories, and comical happy's. All of these have shaped me and make me.....me. Most of these happenings have caught me off guard, and again....I was not really ready....it was just my turn.

I see life around me changing in front of my eyes. My little boy no longer sleeps in his baby bed, and potty training has been okay........this week. Everyday is something new... a new word, a new game, something. We have so much fun during the day making crafts, reading and playing. He is a joy that I want to help him be ready for anything and everything he must face in this life.

So tonight I sit with my precious little boy, so very thankful that even though I constantly find myself not ready in life......it continues to be my turn.

*** BTW*** Parker did pick out all the beads and glued them on the train himself. I know they are in almost a perfectly straight line.....He is definitely Alex's and My child. Also, he picked out the colors for the clothing of the Howard Family. Yes, he wanted Daddy to wear pink..... I thought that was too funny. Oh and he helped in cutting the clothes out. He did not like it, probably because I had my hands on the scissors too. He loved gluing the eyes on the people, but he did not want us to have mouths and noses. So, we don't.

The Life I Planned

Has someone seen the life I planned?

It seems it's been misplaced

I've looked in every corner

It's lost without a trace

I've found one I don't recognize

Things missing that were dear

Promises I'd hope to keep

And dreams I'd dreamed aren't here

Faces I had planned to see

Hands I planned to hold

Now absent in the pictures

Not the way I told

Has someone seen the life I planned?
Did it get thrown away?

God took my hand from searching

Then I heard him say,

"Child, your ears have never heard

Your eyes have never seen

Eternal plans I have for you

Are more than you could dream.

"You long to walk by sight

But I'm teaching eyes to see.

I know what I am doing

'Til then, you must believe."

He's done so much, I felt ashamed

To know He heard my moans

To think I'd trade in all He's done

For plans made on my own.

I wept over His faithfulness

And how He'd proved Himself

How He'd gone beyond my dreams

And said to Him myself,

"No, my ears have never heard

My eyes have never seen

Eternal plans you have for me

Are more than I could dream.

"Yes, I long to walk by sight

But You're teaching eyes to see

You know what You are doing

'Til then, I must believe."

I felt His great compassion

Mercy unrestrained

He let me mourn my losses

And showed me to my gains.

I offered Him my future

And released to Him my past

I traded in my dreams

For a plan He said would last.

I get no glimpse ahead

No certainties at all

Except the presence of the One

Who will not let me fall.

Are you also searching

For a life you planned yourself?

Have you looked in every corner?
Have you checked on every shelf?

Child, your ears have never heard

Your eyes have never seen

Eternal plans He has for you

Are more than you could dream.

Perhaps you long to walk by faith

But He's teaching eyes to see

He knows what He is doing

Child, step out and believe.

~ Beth Moore

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind

has conceived what God has prepared

for those that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

Inaugural Balls

***Warning mother this might not be suitable for you........but it sure is funny. ********



So all day Monday and Tuesday the news kept talking about the President's Inaugural Balls. Alex, my sweet husband, could not control his laughter. It was like he was in sixth grade again......"haha, the teacher said balls." At one point Monday, in a very serious tone he asked if he should email the news station and ask them to reword their speech. So last night when he arrived home, he brought in a package. I was expecting a gold nepalese focal bead. Well when I opened the box........we found as Alex said an inaugural ball. And a big ball it is. The description said 20mm.........ummmmm....no. They might want to take Handy Manny's advice.......measure twice. So here it is, the only inaugural ball we saw last night. I mean after hearing Aretha Franklin at the inauguration..........I did not think I could take any more.




Oh, isn't this the cutest pic. As I was uploading the bead pictures, I noticed this in the opened folder. I could not help it. This was taken in Jan. 2007. Wow, he has changed. Aren't those the cutest lips you have ever seen??????????

Tag you're it!

Parker had been riding his tractor. Crazy hair..."Nan, I need a hair cut."

I'm really not sure what mode I had my camera in.

"Don't worry mom, I'll figure your new camera out in no time!"

So I was tagged by my friend Rebeka to go to the sixth folder and the sixth picture. This was Parker at about six months. A former student made the outfit and used her mom's machine to put Parker's initials.........It was one of my favorite outfits. He has changed so much and it makes me a little sad that my baby is growing so fast. (Oh mom, one thing has not changed, his eyes are still blue...even at two.) However, everyday is so precious and special.......and I love my baby's hair! I love watching Parker grow, learn and love. He is truly a gift from God!

Alex the Builder

For Christmas, Alex built me this beautiful jewelry box. He did such a good job. It is the first thing he has ever built and was very worried at times. I was totally surprised. I knew he was building something for me, but I had no idea what it was. Since it was so beautiful, I have put in several other requests. He has completed one other. A trunk that fits nicely under my bench. It holds my blankets and pillows so Alex can sit on the bench. He did an excellent job on it also.

So we are having the Green Eggs and Ham of potty training. I will not go here or there....I will not go anywhere. For a little one that was doing sooooo well last week, I don't know what happened. He would not always ask to potty, but everytime I took him he went. This weekend, he had no interest. Monday morning he woke and asked to go potty. So we went. Then we went through 3 pull-ups before noon. Discouraged ******************************

A January Snake

Sunday as Alex was opening the back door to his shop, a snake fell from the ledge above his head. It is the second copperhead that he has killed in the same place since we have lived in this house. Thankfully this one did not land on him, as the other did. He decided that maybe he owed Al Gore an apology for his thoughts on global warming. Alex cleaned the yard for fear of more snakes hiding where Parker would be riding his tractor. This snake is missing its head.

christmas 2008